Germany crash out to Paraguay as Neuer retires and Klopp waits

Germany out in the Round of 32 again

Germany are done. Paraguay knocked your team out in the Round of 32, the third straight World Cup where Germany failed to reach the knockout rounds proper (1). The match ended 1–1 and went to penalties, where the cracks showed. This was meant to be the tournament where Julian Nagelsmann's side turned the page. Instead, the page ripped.

Kahn: no one wanted the penalty

Oliver Kahn saw it clearly. The former Germany captain called the penalty search "the most revealing moment of this elimination" (3). Joshua Kimmich was looking around for volunteers. "A top team doesn't look for volunteers in that moment," Kahn said. "It has players who demand the ball" (3). Leon Goretzka, Mats Hummels, Kai Havertz, none of them stepped up the way Kahn expects from a Germany shirt.

Neuer retires from the national team again

Manuel Neuer is done with Germany. The 40-year-old confirmed his international retirement after the Paraguay loss, saying he has "no regrets" (2) (4). It is the second time Neuer has stepped away from the national team, and this one feels final. He leaves with 124 caps and a World Cup winner's medal, but the ending is not the one he deserved.

Nagelsmann likely out, Klopp the favorite

The DFB are expected to sack Julian Nagelsmann after the exit, with Jürgen Klopp the frontrunner to take over (3) (5) (7). Klopp, for his part, is staying above the noise. He said he will not let Germany's early exit spoil his enjoyment of the tournament and the matter is something to deal with "at some other point" (5). That is not a denial.

Germany U-19s on track for semi-finals

A bright spot: the Germany U-19 side are on course for the European Championship semi-finals. Culbreath scored to put them in control against hosts Wales (8). Something to hold onto while the senior side picks up the pieces.

Fan-reaktioner

The mood is grim. German fans online are dissecting the shootout, the lack of leadership, and what three consecutive early exits says about the national team's identity. One thread noting the DFB Instagram account briefly liked a Sky Sports post about Klopp replacing Nagelsmann sums up the chaos, the like was later removed, but the screenshots live on. See the discussion here.